Side bearing



July 18, 1950 E. H. BLATTNER SIDE BEARING Filed June 19, 1948 PatentedJuly 18, 1950 2,515,853 SIDE BEARING Emil H. Blattner, Rochester, N. Y.,assignor to The Symin'gton-Gould Corporation, N. Y., al corporation ofMaryland Depew,

Application June 19, 1948, serial N0. 33,964

01. acs-13s) claims.

This invention pertains to aside bearing and more particularly to ayieldable or resilient type thereof.

Y An object of this invention is the provision, in an improved sidebearing, of an arrangement of yieldable elements capableA of functioningas resilient means to allow a compressive action of the side bearing andfurther to urge one part of the side bearing into frictional engagementwith another part thereof.

A further object ofthe invention is the provision, in an improved sidebearing, of an arrangement whereby frictional forces created during acompressive movement of the side bearing are greater than during arelease action or movement thereof.

The above and numerous other objects of this invention will becomeapparent from the succeeding description considered together withk theaocompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a partial plan `and partial horizontal sectional View of aside bearing embodying th present invention. i

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 2--2 ofFigure l, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the lines 3 3 ofFigure 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, wherein like referencecharacters indicate like parts, the numeral l is employed to designate,in a somewhat general manner, a side bearing exemplary of the presentinvention. This side bearing is arranged to be disposed between arailway truck bolster characterizedby the surface 2 and a body bolsteror body side bearing characterized by the surface 3in Figure 2 of thedrawing only. More specicallythe side bearing has, as a componentthereof, a housing creasing 4 lhaving a base or bottom plate 5 arrangedtobear upon a truck bolster adjacent each end thereof.` The base plateis provided with suitable apertures 6 which function as accommodationsfor rivets (not shown) with the latter removably securing the housing tothe bolster.` Whilethe housingmay form an integral part of the bolsterto be cast therewith it is, however, preferred at the present writing,to form it as a separate elementV and removably secure it to thebolster. Also, as will be clearly understood a side bearing is disposedadjacent each end of the truck bolsterand functions as a jmeans wherebya rocking or rolling action of a car body (not shown) will be limited.Toward the completion of the housing thereupstands from the base plate,a plurality of walls of substantially the same height characterized byend walls 'l and side walls 3 all joined together at their ends todefine a cavity 9 therebetween.

Poised above the upper limits of the housing walls is a top or coverplate IE! of such horizontal extent as to overlie and be in position toengage the side walls. A cap or shoe Il of hollow castl construction issupported by the top plate and has an upward facing surface l2 arrangedto bear against and frictionally engage the surface 3 so that as therailway truck pivots, during service; beneath the car body thefrictional forces created by the engaging surfaces l2 and 3 movingrelative toone another will function as a retarding element to thuscontrol such pivotal truck movement. The cap comprises a top wall I3which carries the upwardly facing previously mentioned surface l2 andadjacent to the extremities of this top wall there depends therefrom endflanges I4 and side flanges I5 joined together to present a continuousstructure. The flanges overlap the housing walls in outwardly telescopedrelation thereto and as such, among other features, formf a skirt orshield to prevent the entrance of any foreign substance to the interiorof the housing. It is found, .almost without exception, that after bodyand truck bolsters are mated the vertical distance between the surfaces2 and 3 is not equal to the predetermined calculated distance for thisspace. This is true whether the bolsters are of cast, fabricated orcomposite form. It, therefore, is necessary to make provisions in orabout the side bearing so as to compensate for manufacturing tolerances.Such provisions are characterized by the introduction of shims I6between the top plate and cap and while a specific number of shims areillustrated it will be clearly understood that any number of shims maybe employed and of any thickness since no two cases maybe foundidentical. The presence and characteristics of the shims will bedependent upon the particular condition existing at the space where aside bearing is to be applied or introduced.

The side bearing under consideration is of the yieldable type so that itwill function as a cushioning means to resist yieldably or control arocking or rolling action of the car body. The compressive movement ofthe side bearing should of course be limited so that after the car bodyhas rolled to one side or the other through its permissible degree, theside bearing will then act asa solid column to stop any further orcontinued movement in the same direction. As previously set forth thetop plate is poised above the housing and the distance between cap andsubjacent housing is determinative of the permissible compressivemovement of the side bearing. It will therefore be clearly understoodthat the distance between the cap and housing is predetermined and ifafter a side bearing has been placed between opposingsurfaces 2 and 3 itis found that this distance is other than that predetermined then theaddition or removal of shims will establish a proper distance betweenthe top plate and housing. Also the top plate completely overlies thehousing walls so that after the side bearing has been fully compressedthe top plate will bear upon the housing and the side bearing will thenfunction as a solid, rigid column until released of its superimposedload to allow an. expansive movement of the bearing. After a bearing isassembled and applied the distance between the top plate and housingshould be gauged to make sure it is equal to that distance predeterminedor permitted. For this purpose, therefore, each cap end flange isprovided with an opening Il' which exposes the critical area and throughwhich a gauge or any other proper implement may be inserted.

Often, heretofore, reference has been made to the yieldablecharacteristics of the side bearing. Toward the fulfillment of thisfeature the housing is provided with spring seats i8, preferably a, pairthereof spaced from one another longitudinally of the side bearing andformed on the base plate. Related with the housing spring seats is apair of spring seats IS formed on kthe top plate and facing downwardlytoward their companion upward- 1y facing housing spring seats. andreacting between the spring seats of the housing and top plate, areyieldable or resilient means which may be of any type or nature butherein are characterized by double coil springs 20. The coil springs, ofa free height greater than the height illustrated in the drawing are,assembled in the side bearing, under an initial compression andaccordingly any movement of the surfaces 2 and 3 toward one another Willbe cushioned by a further compressive action of the coil springs.

kIn order to augment the value of the coil springs and further to snubany harmonic action ofthe coil springs the components of the sidebearing are arranged for the creation of frictional forces. Toward theaccomplishment of the above the spring seats are tilted or inclinedrelative to a horizontal plane to form an oblique angle therewith. Sincethe spring seats are tilted the lc oil springs are also tilted .at anVangle normal to the spring seats and thereby a flat bearing engagementwill be presentbetween the coil springs and their seats. The coilsprings lean toward a housing end wall 'la and away from a housing endwall 'l-b and, therefore, what might be considered as a leading edge 2|of the top plate is at all times urged into intimate contact with thecap end nange 14a. to urge the cap, at all times, in one direction only.This spring action will also .pull the cap end flange Mb into intimatecontact with the housing end wall lb so as to be in frictionalengagement therewith. The capacity of the side bearing is furtherincreased by forming at least the end wall 1h and end flange Hb astapered elements so that their greatest thicknesses are adjacent theirbases. As will be noted, any compressive movement taking place in .theside bearing will result in the development of an vincrease in thefrictional resistance offered. It is also to be here noted that theinclination of Disposed between the springs is such that the transversecomponent will create pressure on the walls 'lb and [4b in excess to thefrictional resistance between the cap surface l2 and the body surface 3so that as the truck whi-ch carries this side bearing executes a curvein the tracks the cap wall Mb will not be moved away from the housingwall 1b.

From the above it will be noted that various changes and alterations maybe made to the structure of the accompanying drawing and the hereincontained description thereof without departing from the spirit of thisinvention and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base withtilted spring seats, a ycap in overlapping relation with said housingand having tilted spring seats associated therewith, and spring meansinterposed between and bearing against said spring seats; said springmeans being tilted vso as to allow said cap to move vertically and tourge said cap horizontally into frictional engagement with said housing.

2. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base withtilted spring seats, a top plate having tilted spring seats, a cap inoverlapping relation with said housing and carried by said top plate,and spring means interposed between and bearing against said springseats;

said spring means being tilted so as to allow said cap to movevertically and to urge said cap into frictional contact with saidhousing.

3. In a side bearing, the -combination of, a housing having a base withtilted spring seats, a top plate having tilted spring seats parallelwith said housing spring seats, a cap supported by said top plate and inouter telescoping relation with said housing, and coil spring meansinterposed between and bearing against said spring seats; said coilspring means being tilted so as to allow said cap to move vertically andto urge said cap in one direction into frictional contact with saidhousing.

4.. In .a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base withtilted spring seats, a top plate having tilted spring seats parallelwith said housing spring seats, a cap supported by said top plate and inouter telescoping relation with said housing, and coil spring meansinterposed between and bearing against said spring seats; said coilspring means lbeing tilted so as to allow said cap to move verticallyand to urge said cap in one direction into frictional contact with saidhousing; contacting surfaces of said cap and housing being inclined soas to increase frictional resistance therebetween as the cap movesdownwardly.

5. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base withtilted spring seats, a top plate having tilted spring seats parallelwith said housing spring seats, a cap supported by said top plate and inouter telescoping relation with said housing, a shim interposed betweensaid top plate and cap, and coil spring means interposed between andbearing against said spring seats; said coil spring means being tiltedso as to allow said cap to move vertically and to urge said cap in onedirection into frictional contact with said housing.

6. In a side bearing, the combination of a housing having a base withtilted spring seats, a top plate normally spaced above and spanning saidhousing, tilted spring seats on said top plate, a cap outwardlytelescoping said housing and supported by said top plate, and coilsprings reacting against said spring seats, said coil springs beingtilted and urging said cap through said top plate into irictionalengagement with said housing.

7. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base, aplurality of spring seats facing in the same direction and inclinedtoward an end of said housing, a top plate spaced above said housing byan amount to determine the permissive movement of said top plate, aplurality of tilted spring seats on said top plate and facing said rstnamed spring seats, a cap supported by said top plate, and coil springsacting between said spring seats; said coil springs being tilted andurging said top plate against said cap and said cap against saidhousing.

8. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base, aplurality of spring seats facing in the same direction and inclinedtoward an end of said housing, a top plate spaced above said housing byan amount to determine the permissive movement of said top plate, aplurality of tilted spring seats on said top plate and facing said rstnamed spring seats, a cap supported by said top plate, coil springsacting between said spring seats; said coil springs being tilted andurging said top plate against said cap and said cap against saidhousing; and a shim interposed between said cap and top plate.

9. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base, aplurality of spring seats facing in the same direction and inclinedtoward an end of said housing, a top plate spaced above said housingdeterminative of a compressive movement of said side bearing, said topplate having a plurality of spring seats facing in the same directionand inclined toward another end of said housing, a cap supported by saidtop plate and telescoping said housing, and spring means acting betweensaid spring seats; said spring means being tilted and urging said topplate against said cap and said cap in one direction only intofrictional engagement with said housing.

10. In a side bearing, the combination of, a housing having a base, aplurality of spring seats facing in the same direction and inclinedtoward an end of said housing, a top plate spaced above said housingdeterminative of a compressive movement of said side bearing, said topplate having a plurality of spring seats facing in the same directionand inclined toward another end of said housing, a cap supported by saidtop plate and telescoping said housing, and spring means acting betweensaid spring seats; said spring means being tilted and urging said topplate against said cap and said cap in one direction only intofrictional engagement with said housing; said cap and housing being soarranged and constructed that frictional resistance is greater during acompressive action of said side bearing.

EMIL I-I. BLATTNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,255,214 OConnor Feb. 5, 19182,125,275 Goodwin Aug. 2, 1938 2,285,140 Barrows et a1 June 2, 19422,410,165 Johnson et al Oct. 29, 1946

